Nadine Ferguson had lost track of how long she had been in the girls' restroom near the cafeteria. She had been there ever since she had zapped Tiffany Sanders with the Prude Gun, and stolen the Bimbo Gun from the transformed cheerleader. That was ... half an hour ago? She wasn't sure.
She knew she could not stay here forever. But the noise from the cafeteria disturbed her. She knew there were more of those horrible Transformation Guns in there, and people were using those wicked things on each other with glee.
A few minutes ago, however, Melony Tyne arrived in the bathroom, and saw her.
"You're still hiding here?" Melony asked.
Nadine did not answer. She wasn't really up to talking to anyone.
"I think things have calmed down in the cafeteria." Melony said. "It might be safe to come out now."
"Those evil things are still all over the school. It's not safe anywhere." Nadine said.
"It's not that bad right now." Melony said. "There aren't that many people in the halls. I think most are staying in the classrooms."
Nadine paused. She didn't know Melony particularly well, but Melony struck her as being basically honest. Melony was friendly with people of most of the cliques, including those who Nadine saw as misguided and foolish.
Nadine was considered the prudish, uptight religious girl by many. She made no secret her disdain for the cheerleaders and their short skirts, the Jocks and their foul language (some were worse than others), and especially the Goths with their fascination with darkness and black magic. Melony was friendly with everyone, including those foul sinners, but Nadine supposed she meant well.
"Good. If they have any sense, they'll stay there." Nadine said.
Melony paused, and stared. "Are those ... ?"
Nadine realized Melony was staring at the Transformation Guns she was carrying. Melony started to back away.
"You see them? Evil things, they are." Nadine said.
"Did you hear the announcement a while back?" Melony asked. "I think you should hand them over to the Principal."
Nadine paused. She had heard the announcement over the intercom. It did sound like something the Principal would say, but it wasn't Principal Davison's voice, but a woman's voice. As far as Nadine knew, Simon Davison was still the Principal. Was the woman his new secretary or assistant, or something?
"What about the ones in the cafeteria?" Nadine asked. "Is anyone handing those over?"
"Athena and her friends have them now. I think they'll be turning them in soon." Melony said.
Nadine laughed. "I doubt it! Athena's a witch! She'll probably keep those evil things for herself. Find some ways to cast more wicked spells!"
"She's really not such a bad person..." Melony began.
"Forget it. I'm not going to talk about it. Just go about your business and go." Nadine said.
Shortly afterward, Melony left the restroom. Nadine supposed she probably went back to the cafeteria.
Nadine realized that she was not doing anything sitting here in the bathroom with two Transformation Guns she didn't know how to get rid of. This wasn't helping anyone. Hiding in the restroom certainly wouldn't help break the evil spell over her friend Theodora Blakely.
She decided it was best to go to the Principal's office. Principal Davison, in her meetings with him, had seemed a reasonable man. She felt that she could explain the situation to him, and maybe even talk about her wish to help Theodora. She needed advice, and at the moment, she did not have anyone else to turn to.
So Nadine carefully stepped outside the restroom, looking both ways to make sure no one was aiming any more of those evil instruments at anyone. She walked cautiously down the hall, looking over her shoulder every few seconds.
She didn't see many people in the halls. Those she did were also looking around cautiously before proceeding.
Nadine made it to the Principal's office lobby without incident. The lobby was occupied by a number of students, sitting on chairs.
She saw the geek girl Kyla Leeson, sitting by herself checking her social media feed on her phone.
She saw Nicole Tiller and Melissa Smith. Both of them appeared to have changed somewhat in appearance, in a manner that no doubt made them more attractive to the boys. Another girl their age Nadine didn't recognize was with them. She, too, was a specimen of the forced good looks Hollywood and glamour magazines forced on girls, the sort girls damaged themselves physically and mentally trying to be like. Nadine just scowled at them, and looked around for the Principal.
Nadine did not see Principal Davison anywhere. She did see a young boy sitting alone, and then the cheerleader Amber Levine sitting near the couch. On the couch was another unreasonably attractive girl Nadine didn't recognize. This girl appeared to be asleep or unconscious.
"Where is the Principal? I need to speak with him." Nadine said.
"He's in there." Nicole said.
"She's in there." Amber said.
Both pointed to the door to the Principal's office.
Nadine paused for a moment. She wasn't sure why they were confused about the Principal's pronouns.
A groaning and stirring turned Nadine's attention to the couch.
"What's her problem?" Nadine asked, indicating the stirring girl on the couch.
Amber paused. "Uh ... she got struck with one of the Transformation Guns, and fainted."
The stirring girl slowly began to sit up. She still felt dizzy, as if she was drunk, or hung over. She wasn't sure where she was. All she knew was that she felt comfortable being a girl.
And yet ... she was still Steve Farber. The guy who was God's gift to women. The ladies' man.
The two seemingly contradictory concepts were still buzzing in her mind. Still delirious, she turned to the first girl she saw, which happened to be Nadine.
A bit of the old Steve slipped out, causing her to say one of the oldest cheesy pickup lines Steve Farber had heard. "Hey, did it hurt when you fell out of Heaven? How about a nice..."
Nadine jumped, and backed off. This girl was drunk, or something, and hitting on her! In her panic, she accidentally fired one of the Transformation Guns she was carrying at the girl.
